SweeTango
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Hybrid parentage | Honeycrisp and Zestar Apple |
| Cultivar | Minneiska |
| Origin |  University of Minnesota, 2008 |
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SweeTango, a registered trademark for the fruit produced by the Minneiska trees, is the apple cultivar Minneiska. It is a newly released hybrid brand apple that debuted in 2009.[1] The spelling of the name, SweeTango, is with one capital "T" and is one word. It is a pinkish apple consisting of a yellow background that is intermittent with red coloration.[2] The surface of the apple has several distinguishing visual characteristics, with freckle-like white lenticels. This variety is also prone to exhibit some net-like russeting in certain seasons.
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Taste [edit]
SweeTango's have a texture similar to Honeycrisp with a slightly tart and citric quality. The name is a portmanteau of the words sweet and tangy. The news release slogan used upon announcement of the 2010 season crop was Let Your Taste Buds Dance![3]
Breeding [edit]
University of Minnesota produced this variety of apple from their breeding program.[1] They have given it the testing designation “MN 1914”. Their 80 acre Horticultural Research Center near Victoria, Minnesota, produced the Minneiska variety apple from Honeycrisp and Zestar apple varieties, which they also specially bred. Other apple varieties they have developed in their facility are Fireside, Haralson, and Honeygold. The Minneiska variety is a hybrid between the Honeycrisp (mother) apple and the Zestar apple (pollinator, "father").[2] The "Zestar" is the apple cultivar Minnewashta and is the "father" of the SweeTango.[4] The Association of University Technology Managers named the Honeycrisp apple one of the top 25 innovations that changed the world.[5]
David Bedford, the inventor of the Minneiska (SweeTango brand) apple says,
| “ | We’re very excited about our newest apple, SweeTango. I think that it’s one of the best apples that we’ve discovered in 100 years of breeding at the University of Minnesota.[6] | ” |
Notability [edit]
One of the growers of the new SweeTango brand apple held a "taste-off" on September 11, 2010. Of the 472 votes for the best tasting apple, 237 (50.21%) were for the SweeTango variety, 132 (27.97%) were for the Honeycrisp variety, and 103 (21.82%) were for the Zestar apple variety. In the 2009 "taste-off" the SweeTango received 321 (67.30%) votes out of 477, Zestar got 103 (21.59%) out of the 477, and Honeycrisp got 53 (11.11%) out of the 477 cast votes.[7]
WCCO[disambiguation needed] Broadcasting explains that the SweeTango is a good eating apple as well as a good cooking apple and goes on to say
| “ | The apple has all the sugar you crave with just a hint of tartness, just the right combination for any fruit fanatic.[8] | ” |
Wall Street Journal says that New York farmers are looking for the next big "Moneycrisp", previously the Honeycrisp, and believe the SweeTango is it for the future.[9]
USA Today writes that Minnesota apple growers believe that SweeTango is a possible worthy successor to the popular and highly successful Honeycrisp apple variety.[10]
Associated Press reports on the Hot New Apple: SweeTango, Spicy and Sweet and gives an extensive review.[11]
StarTribune newspaper reports that the AppleHouse opens at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum featuring the new SweeTango .[12]
The News Tribune newspaper writes a report that the Licensing deal for hot new apple comes under fire for University of Minnesota's exclusive rights to the intellectual property of the SweeTango growing exclusive licensing deals.[13] Others have explained the concept behind this.[14][15][16]
Post-Bulletin newspaper reports that Pepin Heights Orchard believes that they have the next "dynamite" apple with the SweeTango.[17]
University of Minnesota reports that this new brand of apple is a "managed variety", meaning to maintain high quality standards.[18]
Foodgreekery believes that SweeTango is Honeycrisp's nightmare.[19]
A fruit grower comments on the SweeTango in confidence of its future
| “ | The growers and marketers of the new apple variety SweeTango share confidence in its future.[20] | ” |
A recipe for SweeTango apple cobbler can be found online.[21] Numerous reviews of the SweeTango apple can be found online.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]
Availability [edit]
The SweeTango apple style is harvested in late August and early September.[2] They became available for purchase in limited quantities at select retailers across the United States and Canada in September 2009.[1] They are also available to purchase at certain online apple stores.[2] SweeTango is one of 24 apple varieties created by University of Minnesota's scientists in Minnesota.
A list of sellers from California to Michigan of this new variety of apple is available at the following website: Eat Like No One Else.[31]
Grower's Cooperative [edit]
A grower's cooperative of 45 members from Nova Scotia to Washington State is involved in growing and selling this new variety of apple.[1] This cooperative is known as the Next Big Thing.[32]
Trademark and Patent [edit]
The trademark called "SweeTango" belongs to the University of Minnesota for its apple fruit of the "Minneiska" cultivar.[2][33][34] Cultivar means a variety of plant that originated under cultivation.[35] Cultivar is a combining of cultivated and variety.[35]
Patent No.: US PP18,812 P3 says it was obtained on May 13, 2008 by inventors David S. Bedford and James J. Luby. The varietal denomination "Minneiska" has a Latin name of Malus domestica and its patent says in part
| “ | Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by means of budding and grafting by the inventors in Excelsior, Minnesota.[36] | ” |
The Patent for this apple cultivar goes on to say it is distinct
| “ | The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of apple tree...[36] | ” |
It further says of the new apple variety
| “ | 'Minneiska' was selected for its unique combination of fruit traits. Of particular importance is its early ripening season, its very crisp and juicy texture, and its unusually long storage life for an early ripening variety.
The main feature distinguishing 'Minneiska' from other early ripening varieties known to the inventor is the longer time that its fruit can be stored with little change in texture or flavor. 'Minneiska' fruit have a storage life of 3 to 4 months in refrigeration compared to one or two months for other common commercial early season varieties we have observed including 'State Fair' (not patented), 'Arends' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,800), and 'Minnewashta'.[36] |
” |
The Patent compares this new apple style to the state fruit of Minnesota, the Honeycrisp apple
| “ | 'Minneiska' has an early ripening season with fruit ripening occurring approximately the first week of September in Excelsior, Minnesota. Ripening time is slightly after 'Minnewashta', and approximately two to three weeks before 'Honeycrisp'[36] | ” |
The Patent further shows that the new apple variety has characteristics superior to the Honeycrisp apple (its "mother")
| “ | 'Minneiska' is readily distinguished from its parent 'Honeycrisp' in that the fruit of 'Minneiska' ripen approximately two to three weeks earlier.[36] | ” |
Gallery [edit]
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Footnotes [edit]
- ^ a b c d "Sweetango Fact Sheet". Sweetango.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "About Sweetango". Sweetango.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "Let Your Taste Buds Dance: New SweeTango Apples Available Nationally". Marketwire.com. September 2, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "SweeTango Apple". Apples.umn.edu. March 29, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "Zestar apple introduced". .umn.edu. December 27, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "Take an Orchard Tour". Sweetango.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ Deerpath Web Design; http://www.deerpathdesign.com. "Our Apple "Taste-Off"". Rennhackmarket.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ U Of M Develops Sweet New Apple: 'SweeTango'[dead link]
- ^ Grayce, Melanie (August 4, 2010). "Wall Street Journal – The New Apples of Farmers' Eyes". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "Can new SweeTango match Honeycrisp as top apple seller?". USA Today. September 3, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ By STEVE SZKOTAK (September 19, 2010). "Hot New Apple: SweeTango, Spicy and Sweet". Edgedallas.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012. Text " Jan 13 " ignored (help)
- ^ "The dirt: AppleHouse opens at the arb". Startribune.com. August 31, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ Licensing deal for hot new apple comes under fire [dead link]
- ^ "Brief statement on SweeTango lawsuit". Pepinheights.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "Pepin Heights SweeTango Lawsuit Q&A". Pepinheights.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ Star Tribune article by Mary Lynn Smith, Growers sue the University of Minnesota over an exclusive deal with Pepin Heights Orchard to grow the SweeTango.[dead link]
- ^ "Area growers want a bite of the SweeTango apple". Postbulletin.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "SweeTango Description". University of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. November 6, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
- ^ "SweeTango – Honeycrisp’s nightmare". Foodgeekery.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ Brian Sparks. "American/Western Fruit Growers". Growingproduce.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ by admin (November 6, 2010). "Baked SweeTango Apple Cobbler". Eatlikenoone.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ by admin. "What is a SweeTango Apple Like?". Eatlikenoone.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ by admin. "Honeycrisp vs. SweeTango: Which is Better?". Eatlikenoone.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ The Review By Steve Karnowski[dead link]
- ^ "A new apple, the SweeTango, at center of controversy". Twincities.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "Honeycrisp apple successor: SweeTango". Fatwallet.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ Lee Lupo. "New SweeTango apple available in Hart". Mlive.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012. Text " The Muskegon Chronicle " ignored (help)
- ^ "The Next Big Thing: SweeTango Apples Now Available". Moreplease.centralmarket.com. September 27, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "The SweeTango Apple Makes Its Northern Michigan Debut". Mynorth.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "The Building of an Apple Brand: The SweeTango". Heavytable.com. October 14, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ by admin. "Where to Find SweeTango Apples in 2010". Eatlikenoone.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "Next Big Thing, A Growers' Cooperative". Sweetango.com. July 31, 2006. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "Minnesota Arboretum". Arboretum.umn.edu. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ "Minnesota Hardy, p. 26" (PDF). Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ a b "cultivar definition". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Apple Tree Named 'Minneiska'". Google. Retrieved January 18, 2012.
Sources [edit]
- Bedford, David S., United States Plant Patent, Patent No.: US PP18,812 P3 (45)
